Why the Communist Party is Necessary and Why You Need to Participate in It

The handy version of this is a lesson in the school.

Contact for CPUSA: jimlane@cpusa.org

for Young Communist League (generally everybody under 30): lisa@ctneweconomy.org

Make sure you can use your chat box at lower right of your screen.

If you cannot find it, adjust the panels on your screen

Question one: Who am I? Who are you? WHERE are you?

If we know your state of the union, it would help us put you into CPUSA clubs

occupy dallas sign

I'm a rank-and-file activist in Dallas, TX.
I take photos and write for peoplesworld.org
I'm active in mass movements.
Joined cpusa 1984

Question 2: Why do people join CPUSA?

Basically, because they want to maximize their effectiveness in the struggle to liberate everybody. Any other reasons you'd like to suggest? Type them in the chat box

Che Guevara

"At the risk of appearing ridiculous, let me say that the main motivation for revolutionaries is love!"

--Che Guevara

HOW do people join? From the CPUSA constitution:
ARTICLE III – Membership
SECTION 1. Any person living in the United States, 18 years of age or over, regardless of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or religious belief, who subscribes to the principles and purposes of the Communist Party shall be eligible for membership....

SECTION 2. An application for membership may be received by any Party member, club, State (or District), or National body. The member or Party body receiving it shall promptly refer the application to the club (if known) and the State or District Committee where the applicant resides. The club and State or District leadership shall promptly confer about the application, and shall assign one or more members to meet or communicate with the applicant as soon as possible.... In unorganized territory, in the absence of a club, the new member shall be referred to the next leading committee having jurisdiction. It shall be the responsibility of the club, if any, or the next leading body jurisdiction, to assist the new member in becoming involved in Party education, mass work and other activities.

Why don't we change our name?

Why do some of us still use French words like "proletariat" instead of just saying "worker?"

Should we stand up at our next church meeting and announce that we must have the dictatorship of the proletariat?

3. How is the party organized?

Last Convention was held, May, 2010. Next one in 2014.

Between conventions, the National Committee is main leadership

Districts and clubs have a lot of latitude

Technology is creating wonderful new opportunities, but also a few questions that need to be worked through.

Democratic Centralism means majority rulerrIt means that those who speak for the Party are actually representative of the Party, not individuals with their own egotistic axes to grind.rrIt's only my personal opinion, but I believe that the internet has put a strain on our old understanding of democratic centralism. There are a lot of interesting questions raised by the new technology, and they are being worked out over time.

4. Pre-convention discussion is over.

cpusa is an action organization, not a year-round discussion club

5. What's most important right now?

Probably the jobs crisis, but it's different in different places

Health care reform, jobs crisis, economic fightback, civil rights, civil liberties...

6. What can you do now?

Basically, the same things any comrade can do.
"educate, agitate, organize"
Learn, practice, evaluate, learn, practice... etc

Everybody can study through http://tx.cpusa.org/school
Everybody can contribute a regular $$ sustainer to the national party
Send checks to CPUSA at 235 W 23rd St, NYNY 10011.

Everybody can function, as I do, as a "worker correspondent." Send articles directly to me at jimlane@cpusa.org

Are we alienated from everybody?
Do we think we are superior?

Do we love our countrymen & countrywomen?

For a short lesson on the nature of the Party, see http://tx.cpusa.org/school/abcs/partyx.htm